So here it is! The Paris blog post! I'll try and keep it as short and sweet as possible!
Saturday 15th May6am wake up to get to the airport on time. Flight was smooth and found our cases and shuttle bus back to the hotel easily. Checked-in to the hotel which was a little basic but generally ok and clean. Then we walked to the fabric shops (which are about 5 storeys high!) near the Sacré-Cœur, stopping on the way at a restaurant for lunch and a bakery selling the famous Parisian macaroons. They really were worth the wait and had the most incredible taste and texture.
We then decided to walk up the 235 steps to the Sacré-Cœur, which was really beautiful and you could see the whole of Paris from up there. On the way back we stopped off at Carrefour and bought bread and cheese and wine for dinner and found a quaint little vintage store where I bought a black, patent, mock-croc satchel for €25.
Then later on we walked up to the Moulin Rouge and looked around the area, sex shops and all! Went to a bar for some cocktails and wandered back to the hotel about 2am.
Sunday 16th MayUp at 7am to go to Musee Musée d'Orsay by the Seine river. A beautiful art museum that I would recommend to all the art appreciators out there. Hopped on the metro to another museum, Musée des Arts décoratifs, which was alot more fashion-y. Outfits by Karl Lagerfeld, Madame Grès, Issey Miyake, Sonia Rykiel amoung other greats. Very inspiring.
Then we walked to the Louvre to take photos and after losing half of the group back to the hotel due to exhaustion, half of us soldiered on to walk along the Champs Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe. Was amazing to see the big designer stores - Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Hermes... and the more affordable shops such as Sephora (who were having a foam party at the entrance!). And of course the Arc de Triomphe was stunning. Then to top off the tourist attractions we proceded to walk to the Tour Eiffel. Another wonderful phenomenom which was well worth seeing. Back to the hotel to get ready for dinner and Le Lido. One word, incredible. One of, if not, the best show I have ever seen in my life. Gorgeous, half naked dancers, horses, a giant, interactive elephant, ice dancers, a clown, an amazing diablo performer, light effects, a gold pyramid, fountains, rain...just amazing. Well worth €45! The show finished at 2 at which time we hot-footed it back to our beds.
Monday 17th MayMonday morning, had croissants for breakfast at a little bistro and then went to Gallerie Lafayette and Printemps for a little (window!) retail therapy. Was lovely to see all the designer creations. Then we walked to the Notre Dame stopping along the Seine at the little stalls selling all kinds of trinkets. I bought an old poscard from 1930 for €1.70. We crossed the river to the Latin Quarter to see the interesting archetecture and streets. Then on to the Rue de Pais, a long shopping street to look at the small boutiques. At this point we were almost crawling along the pavement so decided to take the metro back to the hotel. We walked back up to Pigalle (near Moulin Rouge) again and to the bakery to buy some macaroons to bring home and then had dinner at a local bistro. We were in bed at 11 to get some sleep before our 3.15 start the next morning. And then it was back to Spain! Where I proceded to lie in bed and rest for the next 48 hours!
Loveness,
Maria
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